Artificial tooth implant device

ABSTRACT

An artificial tooth implant device in which there is provided an anchoring part and a post structure adapted to have an artificial tooth or tooth structure secured thereto, with the device being intended for permanent retention in an artificial recess to be formed in the front face or in the rear face of a patient&#39;&#39;s jawbone, and the device being engageable in said recess in a generally transverse direction of said jawbone with said post structure extending beyond the crest of the jawbone.

United States Patent 1191 Jutllet Dec. 16, 1975 54 ARTIFICIAL TOOTHIMPLANT DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATONS [76] Inventor: Jean-MarcJlmet, 102 we de 191,081 9/1956 Austria 128/92 c Courcelles, 75017Paris, France [22] Filed: Jan. 12, 1973 Primary Examiner-Louis G.Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever [21] App! 323239 Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Holman & Stern [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57]ABSTRACT June 12, France An tooth device in there is 1 133 131; 013ggggf fg tfgfi gzf iii; [58] Field of Search 32/10 A; 128/92 c, 92 1);Secured f mended 3/] permanent retention in an art1fic1al recess to beformed in the front face or in the rear face of a pa- [561 ReferencesCited 223378213532 53113;? ifliielfe' irifiii li i3 UNITED STATESPATENTS jawbone with said post st iucture extending beyond the 3,474.53710/1969 Christensen 32/10 A crest of the jawbone. 3.715.763 2/1973 LinkI28/92 C 3.765.091 10/1973 Northcutt 32 14 A 12 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures U.S. Patent Dec. 16,1975 3,925,892

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH IMPLANT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to an artificial tooth implant device comprising animplanting portion engageable into a jawbone for permanent retentiontherein.

In implanting an artificial tooth or tooth structure into the mouth of apatient, it is essential that said tooth or tooth structure ispermanently maintained in proper position in the patients mouth withoutlateral and longitudinal looseness.

PRIOR ART It has already been proposed to implant an artificial tooth ortooth structure in the jawbone of the patient by means of a device suchas shown in US, Pat. No. 3,465,441 to Leonard I. Linkow, said devicecomprising a thin, razorsharp implanting blade portion having an openingprovided therein, and a relatively massive support portion which extendsup from the blade beyond the patients gum. For securing the artificialtooth or tooth structure in place, the blade portion is embedded intothe jawbone by applying onto the support portion a force sufficient todrive the blade portion into the jawbone in an accurately defineddirection, with the sharp edge of the blade portion being able to cutinto the jawbone structure and spread it apart until the support portioncomes to rest on the gum, whereafter the artificial tooth can be securedonto the support portion of the device. Initially, the implant devicewill be held in place by the pressure of the bone tissue on the sidesurfaces of the implant blade portion the surface area of which issufficiently large to produce effective retention when it is firstdriven into the bone by force applying means such as a mallet. After atime, the bone structure grows through the opening provided in the bladeportion to thereby retain the same within the jawbone. This knownimplanting arrangement is objectionable in that the resistance of thegum and the slight pressure fit of the blade portion are insufficientfor retaining the initially embedded blade portion in place against theeffect of the mastication pressure tending to force the blade portionsomewhat deeper into the bone structure so that the known arrangementcannot be relied upon for retaining an artificial tooth or toothstructure in the initially implanted position thereof.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a general object ofthe invention to provide an artificial tooth implanting arrangementwhich will avoid the above described disadvantage of the prior artarrangement.

It is also a general object of the invention to provide an artificialtooth implant device having an anchoring plate portion adapted todistribute the pressure in use over a wall portion of a complementalartificial cavity or recess formed in the jawbone and into which theimplant device is slidingly engageable in a generally transversedirection of said jawbone for permanent retention therein.

It is another object of the invention to provide an artificial toothimplant device of the type described for frictional engagement into acomplemental artificial recess formed in a patients jawbone and designedso that the fully inserted device will be accurately positioned in thejawbone without lateral and longitudinal play.

Another ojbect of the invention is to provide an extremely dependableartificial tooth implant device which is simple in design and econimicalto manufacture.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawings and following specification, wherein are disclosedfour examplary embodiments of the invention, with the understanding,however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In said drawing:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged view inperpsective of an artificial tooth implant device constructed accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a jawbone portion provided with anartificial recess, and illustrating the manner in which the device shownin FIG. 1 is to be inserted in the recess.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are transverse and longitudinal sectional elevationsrespectively of the implant device after its insertion in the artificialrecess shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in perpective of an artificial tooth implantdevice constructed according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged perspective views respectively of two furtherdifferent embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Similar characters of referencerefer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of thedraw- Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to4, the artificial tooth implant device I here shown is more particularlyadapted for implantation within the molar and premolar region of apatients jawbone. The implant device 1 is preferably in the form of aunitary metallic structure and comprises a thin flat anchoring plate 2of square or rectangular shape having a smaller width than that of thejawbone portion into which plate 2 is to be introduced, and a poststructure 3 projecting from a central portion of one face of the plate 2in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. The plate 2 isprovided with a plurality of openings 2a, and post 3 is adapted tosupport an artificial tooth such as shown at 9 in FIG. 3 and which maybe secured onto the post 3 in any suitable manner such as by anapplication of cement. However, in order to positively prevent anyrotation of the artificial tooth 9 relative to the device 1, the post 3is preferably angular in cross section to snugly fit a correspondingcavity formed in the gingival end of tooth 9, with the longitudinaledges of such post being preferably smoothed off or rounded. The post 3may be hollow and be provided with an internal screwthread adaped tocooperate with an external screw-thread 5a formed on the shank of ascrew member 5 which may be used as a means for fastening the artificialtooth to post 3. In order to solve certain problems of parallelism whichmay be encountered in mounting artificial teeth on one or severalindividual implant devices, a shank length portion 5b of screw member 5extending above the threaded length 3 portion thereof may be bent so asto form a suitable angle with the threaded length portion 5a of theshank.

From the standpoint of manufacture, the anchoring plate 2 may have alength ranging between 18 and 28 mm, a width of 7.5 mm, and a thicknessof 0.5 mm; the post 3 may have a length ranging between 12 and mm, andmay be of square transverse section so as to present four side faceshaving each a width of about 2 As previously indicated, the implantdevice 1 is intended for transverse insertion into an artificial recessformed in a jawbone. To this end, an incision is made in the mucoustissue on the crest of a jawbone portion 6 into which the device is tobe inserted, which tissue is then scraped by means of a suitable tool soas to leave the underlying front or rear face portion of the boneuncovered, whereafter the artificial recess is formed in the bare rearface or front face portion of the bone. This artificial recess consistsof a substantially horizontal groove 7 and a vertical groove 8 extendingfrom the groove 7 at substantially the midleng'th thereof to the crestof bone 6. As will be readily apparent from FIG. 2, the groove 7 isintended for the reception of anchoring plate 2, and groove 8 for thereception of the post 3 of the implant device 1 shown in FIG. 1, withthe groove 7 being located at such a distance from the bone crest thatthe length portion of the post 3 which will extend beyond said crestafter insertion of the device is adequate for securing and adjusting anartificial tooth 9 onto said length portion of the post 3.

For securing the implant device 1 in place, it suffices to give thegrooves 7 and 8 such dimensions that the plate 2 and post structure 3are frictionally engageable into their respective grooves whereby thedevice, upon complete insertion into the grooves, will be securelyanchored in the bone structure without vertical, longi tudinal andtransverse looseness relative to the bone structure, and this not onlyby virtue of its positive retention against displacements in twoopposite vertical directions as well as in three horizontal directions,but also by virtue of its frictional retention against a displacement inthe fourth horizontal direction, namely in a direction opposite to thatof its frictional engagement into the grooves.

As clearly apparent from FIG. 3, the groove 7 should have a depth suchthat the plate 2, when moved to its operative position in the groove 7,will lie entirely within the bone structure 6, whereas the depth ofgroove 8 should be such that its vertical bottom wall is spaced from thehorizontal bottom wall of groove 7 by a distance equal to the distanceexisting between the edge of anchoring plate 2 intended to contact saidbottom wall of groove 7 and the face of the post structure 3 intended tocontact said bottom wall of groove 8.

When the implant device is positioned in the complemental recess so asto serve in its intended manner, it is only necessary to cover the baredportion of the jawbone with the previously detached mucous tissueportion and, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art,to suture this mucous tissue portion to the gum line from which it hasbeen separated. An artificial tooth such as shown at 9 in FIGS. 3 and 4may now be secured onto the length portion of post structure 3 extendingbeyond the crest of home structure 6.

After a time, the bone structure 6 grows through the openings 2a formedin the plate 2 to additionally lock the device in the anchored positionthereof.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 is more particularly adapted for implantationwithin the incisor, canine, or posterior region of a jawbone. Thisdevice differs from the device of FIGS. 1 to 4 only in that theanchoring plate 2 is of a substantially V-shaped form, the apex of whichconstitutes a transverse median portion of plate 2, and in that poststructure 3 is positioned on the outer flattened face of such medianportion substantially at the center thereof.

The construction of the anchoring plate 2 shown in FIG. 6 is the same asin FIG. 1, but the anchoring plate has on one of its flat faces twolongitudinally spaced posts 3 and 3a extending from said face insubstantially parallel relation. The two posts 3 and 3a may be of samestructure and may be of same or different length, with each post beingadapted to have an artificial tooth or an artificial tooth structuresuch as a bridge or the like secured thereto.

While the anchoring plate 2 has been described as being of generallysquare or rectangular form, it should be understood that it may beotherwise designed without departing from the principles of theinvention. Thus, in cases where the anchoring plate is contemplated forinsertion into an appreciably curved horizontal length portion of ajawbone, there may be used a flat anchoring plate of correspondingarcuate configuration such as shown at 10 in FIG. 7. One of the twocurved longitudinal edges of the plate 10 may be provided with a taperedcutout 11 permitting, is that is desired, to vary the radius ofcurvature of plate 10 by deforming the plate manually in such a manneras to approach the edges of cutout 11 towards each other.

It is to be noted that in the forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 6and 7, the anchoring plate may be divided into two half portions havingeach a post structure normal thereto so that each half portion of theplate and its corresponding post structure may be used as an individualimplant device such as shown in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of an anchoring platehaving two or more longitudinally spaced post structues such as 3 and 3athereon requires the formation of a corresponding number oflongitudinally spaced post receiving grooves 8 in the rear or in thefront face of the jawbone.

It will be appreciated that a secure anchorage of the implant deviceaccording to the present invention is assured in that the device findsthe grooves 7, 8, into which it is to be pushed, of a width socommensurate with the thickness of the anchoring plate and of the poststructure, respectively, that it makes for ease of initial frictionalinter-relation of the device with the grooves. It will be furtherappreciated that in the event that the width of the grooves should befound somewhat too large to assure the desired frictional interrelation,it is possible to compensate for this inconvenience by any suitableaccurate expedient such as, for example, by deforming some edge lengthportions of the anchoring plate so that they protrude slightly from theplane of the plate.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention aconstruction with which the various objects hereinbefore noted aresuccessfully achieved, to gether with many thoroughly practicaladvantages. It will also be seen that the construction is well adaptedto meet the requirements of inexpensiveness of manufacture, and of longand hard practical use. Furthermore, the entire implanting operation isrelatively simple and readily within the skill of a dentist or asurgeon.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial tooth implant device engageable into a complementalartificial recess formed in the front or rear face of a jawbone forpermanent retention of said device in said jawbone, said devicecomprising an implanting portion defined by a flat anchoring platestructure having at least one opening therein, and a mounting portiondefined by an elongated post structure extending from a substantiallycentral surface area of one face of said plate structure in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to said one face, and said post structureincluding means for mounting an artificial tooth or tooth structure on afree end length portion of said post structure.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said mounting means consistsof a thread provided on said post structure along said free end lengthportion thereof, said thread being cooperable with a complemental threadof a fastening means for an artificial tooth or tooth structure to besecured onto said free end length portion of said post structure.

3. An artificial tooth implant device intended for. insertion into andpermanent retention within a recess of corresponding configurationformed in a front face portion or in a rear face portion of a jawbonestructure, said device comprising a flat anchoring plate having twoopposite transverse edges and two opposite substantially parallellongitudinal edges, at least one opening formed in said plate, saidopening having a dimension sufficient to permit the jawbone structureprovided with said device to grow through said opening, a post structureextending from a central portion of said plate in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto, and means for securing anartificial tooth or tooth structure on said post structure.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said post structure is ofangular cross-section to fit a hole of corresponding shape formed in anartificial tooth to be secured onto said post structure.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said post structure ishollow.

6. An artificial tooth implant device intended for insertion into andpermanent retention within a recess of corresponding configurationformed in a front face portion or in a rear face portion of a jawbonestructure, said device comprising a flat anchoring plate having twoopposite transverse edges and two opposite substantially parallellongitudinal edges, at least on opening formed in said plate, saidopening having a dimension sufficient to permit the jawbone structureprovided with said device to grow through said opening, a hollow poststructure extending from a central portion of said plate in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto, said hollow post structure beingprovided with an internal thread adapted to cooperate with an externalthread formed on a fastening means for an artificial tooth or toothstructure to be secured onto said post structure.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said fastening meansconsists of arod member having a length portion provided with saidexternal thread and a length portion bent relative to said threadedlength portion so as to form a predetermined .angle therewith.

8. The device according to claim 3, wherein said anchoring plate is bentlongitudinally so as to present two plate portions diverging from atransverse median portion, said post structure projecting from themiddle of the outer face of said median portion in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto.

9. The device according to claim 3, wherein said parallel longitudinaledges of the anchoring plate are arcuate. 1

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein one of said arcuatelongitudinal edges of the anchoring plate is provided with a cut-outpermitting to effect a longitudinal deformation of the plate in suchdirection as to move the mutually facing edges of the cut-out towardseach other to thereby vary the radius of curvature of the arcuateanchoring plate.

11. The device according to claim 3, wherein the diameter of eachopening formed in said anchoring plate is not less than 2.5 mm.

12. An artificial tooth implant device engageable into a complementalartifical recess formed in the front or rear face of a jawbone forpermanent retention of said device in said jawbone, said devicecomprising an implanting portion defined by a flat anchoring platestructure having at least one opening therein, and a mounting portiondefined by at least two elongated substantially parallel post structuresextending from one face of the plate structure in a, dir'ectionsubstantially perpendicular to said one face, and.each of said poststructures including means for mounting an artificial tooth or toothstructure on a free e'nd length portion of said post structures.

1. An artificial tooth implant device engageable into a complementalartificial recess formed in the front or rear face of a jawbone forpermanent retention of said device in said jawbone, said devicecomprising an implanting portion defined by a flat anchoring platestructure having at least one opening therein, and a mounting portiondefined by an elongated post structure extending from a substantiallycentral surface area of one face of said plate structure in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to said one face, and said post structureincluding means for mounting an artificial tooth or tooth structure on afree end length portion of said post structure.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1 in which said mounting means consists of a thread provided onsaid post structure along said free end length portion thereof, saidthread being cooperable with a complemental thread of a fastening meansfor an artificial tooth or tooth structure to be secured onto said freeend length portion of said post structure.
 3. An artificial toothimplant device intended for insertion into and permanent retentionwithin a recess of corresponding configuration formed in a front faceportion or in a rear face portion of a jawbone structure, said devicecomprising a flat anchoring plate having two opposite transverse edgEsand two opposite substantially parallel longitudinal edges, at least oneopening formed in said plate, said opening having a dimension sufficientto permit the jawbone structure provided with said device to growthrough said opening, a post structure extending from a central portionof said plate in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, andmeans for securing an artificial tooth or tooth structure on said poststructure.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said poststructure is of angular cross-section to fit a hole of correspondingshape formed in an artificial tooth to be secured onto said poststructure.
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said poststructure is hollow.
 6. An artificial tooth implant device intended forinsertion into and permanent retention within a recess of correspondingconfiguration formed in a front face portion or in a rear face portionof a jawbone structure, said device comprising a flat anchoring platehaving two opposite transverse edges and two opposite substantiallyparallel longitudinal edges, at least on opening formed in said plate,said opening having a dimension sufficient to permit the jawbonestructure provided with said device to grow through said opening, ahollow post structure extending from a central portion of said plate ina direction substantially perpendicular thereto, said hollow poststructure being provided with an internal thread adapted to cooperatewith an external thread formed on a fastening means for an artificialtooth or tooth structure to be secured onto said post structure.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 6, wherein said fastening means consists of arod member having a length portion provided with said external threadand a length portion bent relative to said threaded length portion so asto form a predetermined angle therewith.
 8. The device according toclaim 3, wherein said anchoring plate is bent longitudinally so as topresent two plate portions diverging from a transverse median portion,said post structure projecting from the middle of the outer face of saidmedian portion in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. 9.The device according to claim 3, wherein said parallel longitudinaledges of the anchoring plate are arcuate.
 10. The device according toclaim 9, wherein one of said arcuate longitudinal edges of the anchoringplate is provided with a cut-out permitting to effect a longitudinaldeformation of the plate in such direction as to move the mutuallyfacing edges of the cut-out towards each other to thereby vary theradius of curvature of the arcuate anchoring plate.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the diameter of each opening formed insaid anchoring plate is not less than 2.5 mm.
 12. An artificial toothimplant device engageable into a complemental artifical recess formed inthe front or rear face of a jawbone for permanent retention of saiddevice in said jawbone, said device comprising an implanting portiondefined by a flat anchoring plate structure having at least one openingtherein, and a mounting portion defined by at least two elongatedsubstantially parallel post structures extending from one face of theplate structure in a direction substantially perpendicular to said oneface, and each of said post structures including means for mounting anartificial tooth or tooth structure on a free end length portion of saidpost structures.